I Have been told they (Babolat) are developing an 18x20 'classic' type frame. Maybe Tsonga is giving it a bit of a run-out for feedback.

Regards

Paul

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great news that Jo is out there early & testing.
Great idea if he changes to box beam, he definitely doesn't need the power.
Tennis needs him to make another run to a GS final.
Australia could be the place...it was before!

by definition, I don't think babolat meant it to last as long as it has.
Pure Storm was meant to take those box beam sales,while it is not a big part of their racquet business they recognize the need to offer something in this area.
Jan. is a perfect time to try something new & a good time for Jo to make a move, despite being an Aero player. I always saw him as a flatter trajectory, more attacking player anyway.
It will also be interesting to see how Harrison adjusts to it as well, he is even harder to please.

Well, the big sellers are the Pure Drives and Aero Drives.
Babolat didn't exactly take over the market of classic players frames.
The PS Ltd. AFAIK is a failure in the sales department, at least in my neighbourhood.
The "classic" Pure Storms sell much better though the story with Pure Controls and later Storms is a funny one for me. Do you remember the days when people complained about the Pure Controls being to stiff? I agree that 71RA was overkill but they weren't that bad. When Babolat changed this and renamed them as Pure Storm Tours the sales didn't hit roof top. Still I find it funny that even though the PSTs had much lower stiffness I know quite a few people who experienced elbow problems from using them.

I may be biased but I really liked Babolats lighter control frame - Soft Control.
96 square inch headsize. Soft, light, plenty of room to customize. Those were the days.

I also had the chance to hit with an old beat up Pure Control Zylon (the extended version) and I have to say it also was a really nice frame and didn't feel uncomfortably stiff.

Although I'm not fond of Babolat I'm actually interested if they can "surprise" the market and come out with something which can compete with APDs and PDs in terms of popularity.

Jo Wilfried was intended to push the new AeroLine Range. This is just a try out as Paul suggested. Problem will be if Jo really likes it & doesn't want to move back! But marketing strategy is easy to change, sometimes keeping your players happy is more important.
As I mentioned before, the Pure Storm was really intended to give a box beam alternative never to directly takeover sales from the Drive or Aero lines. Babolat never wanted the classic players market, it isn't worth anything in terms of sales . Head, Wilson & Prince also realised this but they have a longer, more established line. It has taken these 3 longer to re-position themselves as they are all much bigger.

Babolat have been carefully sidestepping the opposition & trying to whisper their message. It may not suit some people but it has worked for them.
They know they are not no. 1 but they are working on it.

Jo Wilfried & his blackout racquet is really the thread topic & he is in a similar position to babolat.
He is not no. 1 but wants to contend at the big ones.
A flatter trajectory, more direct way is better for him.(only my opinion).
Roger Rasheed will give him this but it is going to hurt.
Depends on how much he wants it.

I humbly disagree on Harrison, lots of companies want him, if he starts focusing he has all the potential. This is probably doing him a disservice, he needs another 2 years probably(a very young 20something) but if he catches the right draw he can still move up next year. He is raw.
I am sure Babolat will have him swinging this frame as well.

With Nadal out of the Aussie, they need Tsonga to make a good showing for their new Aero line. Looking forward to seeing if they PJ up a new stick for him (like a Pure Storm) or if he sticks with the APD+racquet.

Jo Wilfried was intended to push the new AeroLine Range. This is just a try out as Paul suggested. Problem will be if Jo really likes it & doesn't want to move back! But marketing strategy is easy to change, sometimes keeping your players happy is more important.
As I mentioned before, the Pure Storm was really intended to give a box beam alternative never to directly takeover sales from the Drive or Aero lines. Babolat never wanted the classic players market, it isn't worth anything in terms of sales . Head, Wilson & Prince also realised this but they have a longer, more established line. It has taken these 3 longer to re-position themselves as they are all much bigger.

Babolat have been carefully sidestepping the opposition & trying to whisper their message. It may not suit some people but it has worked for them.
They know they are not no. 1 but they are working on it.

Jo Wilfried & his blackout racquet is really the thread topic & he is in a similar position to babolat.
He is not no. 1 but wants to contend at the big ones.
A flatter trajectory, more direct way is better for him.(only my opinion).
Roger Rasheed will give him this but it is going to hurt.
Depends on how much he wants it.

I humbly disagree on Harrison, lots of companies want him, if he starts focusing he has all the potential. This is probably doing him a disservice, he needs another 2 years probably(a very young 20something) but if he catches the right draw he can still move up next year. He is raw.
I am sure Babolat will have him swinging this frame as well.

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Babolat sold 4 of the top 5 frames this year. Safe to say they're number 1 in the racquet department.

Babolat sold 4 of the top 5 frames this year. Safe to say they're number 1 in the racquet department.

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The figures that you may have read in this forum are not world wide sales(USA only) & are only based on tennis specialists/pro shops etc. Internet sales & Big Department Stores were not included in this.

Overall racket (units sold) sales are what counts.

Ask Babolat, they consider themselves World-Wide no. 3 in tennis racquet sales, behind wilson & head. All the racquet companies have a good idea where they are placed.

I am not saying Babolat has not had a very good 2012.

What would make 2013 start off with a bang would be Jo Wilfried winning the Oz Open. With or without the blackout racquet.

Just saw other hopman cup vid and Tomic is also using a blacked out frame

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Could be wrong but I swore I saw that familiar head pro-stock buttcap. If this is true and Yonex has lost him, it's a big blow for their marketing team.

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No matter what racquet Tsonga has in hand, he needs to make better decisions on court. He gets caught in 'no-man's-land' too often up at net and at mid-court. He has all the essential tools of a champion, just needs to be a tad less aggressive and a bit more decisive/smart with ball.

Being a life long 18x20 user, I'll say that moving to a 16x19 pattern is not that big of a deal, until you switch back to the closed pattern, then you feel 'at home'.